Massachusetts has the Kennedys and Wisconsin has the Fitzgeralds.
For the first time this fall, Dodge County voters will have three Fitzgeralds on the ballot next month. State Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Representative Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), and their father Steve are all running for office. Steve Fitzgerald faces incumbent Sheriff Todd Nehls in a Republican primary this September.
Scott Fitzgerald says the two families have some history. In 1988, Steve beat Todd’s father Ed Nehls in the race for Sheriff. Then in 1992, Todd ran unsuccessfully against Steve. The elder Fitzgerald then received an appointment in 2002 to the U.S. Marshalls service, which allowed Nehls to run and win the Sheriff’s office.
Fitzgerald’s stint as a U.S. Marshall ended though, and he’s now trying to get his old job back.
One of the issues in the race is the time spent in Washington, DC over the past year attending the War College, while running the Sheriff’s Department from afar. Scott Fitzgerald says not much has been made of that yet and he expects the race to “come right down to the wire.”
In general, the state Senator believes Republicans will do well this election cycle in local, state, and federal races.
Scott Fitzgerald has two opponents in November; a Democrat and an Independent. His brother Jeff is running unopposed.